A coalition of local hospitality leaders today urged New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to honor his campaign promise to protect workers by removing a job-killing alcohol tax increase from the state's budget proposal - an increase that will destroy over 1,000 jobs across the state hospitality sector, the leaders wrote.

"Here's an opportunity to save a thousand jobs in New Jersey's hard-hit hospitality industry," said Fred Leighton, President of the New Jersey Liquor Stores Alliance, who noted that over 11,000 state hospitality jobs have already been lost over the past year due to the recession. "Governor, do the right thing."

A recent economic analysis showed that increasing New Jersey's excise tax on spirits and wine by 25% (from $4.40 to $5.50/gallon for spirits and from $0.70 to $0.875/gallon on wine) would cause local retailers to lose an estimated $60 million in retail sales and shed 1,000 hospitality sector jobs as a result.

From the letter:

"Governor, you campaigned on the issue of creating jobs for New Jersey, but in fact this proposal will have the opposite effect for a local hospitality industry that has been pummeled by the recession. By vetoing this misguided proposal you can help over one thousand state residents who will surely lose their jobs if this becomes law."

The letter is signed by representatives of the New Jersey Restaurant Association, the New Jersey Liquor Stores Alliance, the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Wine Institute and the Black Prince Distillery in Clifton, New Jersey.